Column: ALL WRITE

AL S. MENDOZA

PIN BLAME ON

MARQUEZ TOO

IN CONTROVERSY

WHY all this fuss about Manny Pacquiao’s victory being labeled controversial?

Did Pacquiao not really beat Juan Manuel Marquez? Did he not win convincingly?

I don’t know about you, fellas, but to me, Pacquiao won, period.

Pacquiao failed to knock out Marquez as we had all expected. But that did not detract from the fact he emerged the clear winner.

Even the scorecards alone showed Pacquiao won it: Two judges (Dave Moretti and Glenn Trowbridge) going for him, the third and last judge (Robert Hoyle) seeing it a draw.

Where’s the doubt there?

You got two of the three judges and you still remained a doubtful winner?

What’s a majority decision but a simple plurality of  votes?

The third judge didn’t even rule it a loss for Pacquiao—and you tag Pacquiao a doubtful winner?

C’mon, let’s get real, fellas.

The mere fact that Marquez failed to earn even a single nod from the three judges should be enough proof that Pacquiao had won it loud and clear.

Thank God, Pacquiao isn’t a humbug yet again.

When he was deprived of victory in a 2004 draw result against Marquez after having dropped the Mexican three times in the first round, you never heard Pacquiao complain.

This, even after one of the judges had openly admitted his having entered a wrong score in Round 1 which had cost Pacquiao the victory.

It should have been a 3-0, win-loss tally by now for Pacquiao against Marquez, counting Pacquiao’s split decision win in 2008.

But, no, Marquez escaped from virtual shame himself and yet, he keeps harping he was the winner in all three fights. The gall.

Well, if there’s one credit, though, that Marquez deserves so rightfully, he finished the fight standing.  Let’s give it to him: He went to battle more than prepared.

Look, although he had bulked up overnight, he didn’t show signs of slowing down one teeny-weeny bit.  That’s awesome.

And his 38-year-old knees had remained rock-solid, defying Father Time, so to speak.  That’s huge.

Still, Marquez lost it.  And how I wish he’d accept the defeat like an honorable and a dignified man should.  It’d help stem the tide of discontent among his countrymen.*